Comparative analysis of heavy metal contamination in some common tubers and vegetables of Kerala

Leafy vegetables and tubers contaminated by heavy metals will cause potential health risk to human beings. An analysis was carried out to study the heavy metal contamination in tubers and leafy vegetables at Kottayam district, Kerala. The results indicated that higher levels of lead were recorded in all of the samples analyzed when compared to the WHO permissible limits (0.1 mg/kg) for tubers and leafy vegetables, except in Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott., collected from Erattupetta market. Cadmium content was higher in both the tubers and leafy vegetables collected from Changanacherry market. Therefore, regular assessment of the accumulation of heavy metals in leafy vegetables and tubers is the need of the era.